Weld County oil and gas spill report for June 18

The following spills were reported to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in the past two weeks.

Information is based on Form 19, which operators must fill out detailing the leakage/spill events. Any spill release that may impact waters of the state must be reported as soon as practical. Any spill of five barrels or more must be reported within 24 hours, and any spill of one barrel or more, which occurs outside secondary containment, such as metal or earthen berms, must also be reported within 24 hours, according to COGCC rules. Spills and leaks typically are found during routine maintenance on existing wells, though some actual “spills” do occur among the 23,000-plus wells in the county.

NOBLE ENERGY INC., reported June 15 a flowline spill about 7 miles north of Hudson, near Weld County roads 28 and 43. Between one and five barrels each of oil, condensate and produced water spilled. Waters of the state were either threatened or impacted by the spill. The spill was found during operations.

NOBLE MIDSTREAM SERVICES LLC, reported June 12 a produced water transfer system spill about 7 miles southeast of Galeton, near Weld roads 68 and 67. About 20 barrels of produced water spilled. Internal corrosive holes developed in a three-foot section of a produced water line.

HIGHPOINT OPERATING CORP., reported June 10 a tank battery spill about 5 miles northwest of Orchard, near Weld roads 56 and 89. About 40 barrels of produced water spilled into secondary containment. A line at the water transfer facility developed a leak.

HIGHPOINT ENERGY LLC, reported June 8 an oil tank spill in Windsor, near Technology Circle and East Garden Drive. Between one and five barrels each of oil and produced water spilled. A washed-out valve in the tank is believed to have caused the spill.

NOBLE ENERGY INC., reported June 6 a historical partially-buried vessel spill about 5 miles south of Kersey, near Weld roads 46 and 49. Between one and five barrels of produced water spilled about 50 feet west of the Neres Canal. Crews found the spill while dismantling the tank battery.

NOBLE ENERGY INC., reported June 6 a historical partially-buried vessel spill about 5 miles east of Gilcrest, near Weld roads 40 and 47. Between one and five barrels of produced water spilled. Crews found the spill while removing the water vessel.

KERR MCGEE OIL & GAS ONSHORE LP, reported June 6 a historical tank battery spill in Fort Lupton, near Weld roads 16 and 29. Less than five barrels of oil, condensate and produced water spilled. Crews found the spill while dismantling the tank battery.

BAYSWATER EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION LLC, reported June 1 a tank battery spill about 2.5 miles northeast of Severance, near Weld roads 78 and 29. About seven barrels of oil spilled. An oil hauler left a half-inch drain valve open in the load bucket while pulling on his load. Oil spilled into lined containment.